teflonjohn

I've heard that the valve covers for the C1's were painted red - when new when they left the factory. I've seen this on some 1958 Corvette's but often times as not the valve covers aren't painted. Someone set me straight as I am learning.

Thanks;
J

Frankie the Fink

Which valve covers ?

Aluminum or stamped steel? The stamped steel covers were painted GM orange and not red.

The aluminum covers, both straight across and staggered bolt patterns, have been raw aluminum on all the car I've seen

teflonjohn

Thanks Frankie, so now the question.....what would the steel covers be correct for versus the aluminum?

GCD1962

'56 V-8's for pass cars were painted red, so Vettes also could have had the same. I think steel covers were used on the base engines

Todd H.

I'm away from my reference books at the moment, but generally all lower HP v8 engines had the steel covers. Not sure about '55s, but '56 engines and covers were red. Orange engines and covers '57-'62.

Frankie the Fink

Typically base/low-HP mills got the stamped steel covers (e.g. 230hp); higher HP got the aluminum, like my 270hp, solid lifter '61..

gbvette62

In 55, there was only one engine offered (265/195), and it came with stamped steel valve covers, painted the engine color.

For 56-61 the base engines (265/210 in 56, 283/220 in 57, 283/230 in 58-61) came with painted, stamped steel valve covers. The optional engines all came with unpainted, natural aluminum finish, finned aluminum valve covers.

The 62 327/250 and 327/300 engines, came with engine color painted, stamped steel valve covers. The 327/340 and 327/360, came with bare aluminum finned covers.

teflonjohn

Good grief......you guys know your stuff!!! I'm still looking and learning about the 58's. I will say that Mershon's has a sweet red with white coves that makes me wish I was in the position to buy. From their description it has the optional high output mtr.

jim lockwood

The '55 Corvette V8 valve covers were chrome plated.

'55 6 bangers? Probably painted but I'm not positive.

DZAUTO

That is EXACTLY correct!!!
The 54 6cyl valve covers could be painted blue or chrome--------------there seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to why some were painted and some were chrome.
From the best documentation that has been uncovered, it APPEARS that only about 10 55 6cyl cars were built (and they were still 6volt). I personally have seen two documented 55 6cyl Vettes and both had chrome covers. All the remaining 55 Vettes were V8 and each one that has been known to be correct had chrome valve covers. ALL 55 V8 Vettes were 12volt.
As also mentioned, 56 V8 engines (BOTH pass car and Vette) were painted RED, NOT Chevy orange, which began with the 57 V8 engines.
Also, as mentioned, the base engines had painted steel covers and ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL optional engines (EXCEPT the optional 300hp 62 engine) had bare finned alum covers. The optional hyd cam engines (such as 2x4 and FI hyd engines) were OPTIONAL, thus, they did get the alum covers.
Now, with all of that said, Chev parts dept sold a boat load of finned valve covers to thousands of customers for installation on their bone stock engines (including the economy 2bl engines). I bought several sets of finned covers from my Chevy dealer over the years. There was a time when finned alum covers were about $25ea----------------cheap, huh! EVERY SB Chevy engine I own (6) has finned Corvette covers! Installation of these covers on a bone stock engine will instantly add 50hp!!!
So it was very common for Corvettes with base engines, and painted covers, to have the covers replaced with alum covers-------------------many, many, many times.

gbvette62

My bad, you're right.

I don't know why, but I was thinking 55's used the same valve covers, with the painted Chevrolet script, as the passenger cars. The worse part is that I was just at a customer's shop last week, looking over a 55 (with chrome covers) that he's restoring for someone!